370 Lieut, R. E. Vauglian and StafF-Surg. K. II. Jones 



the nests appear to be better built and are, to some extent, 

 lined with dry stalks, -which do not, however, radiate from 

 the centre as has been described. 



The time for laying varies remarkably, for on March 24, 

 though only about a third of the birds were breeding, eggs 

 were found in all stages of incubation, and there were young 

 birds in several nests. At the end of March 1904, there 

 were young birds at Samshui, whereas on Api'il G, 1906, 

 only one egg had been laid ! Three weeks later many birds 

 were breeding and the nests appeared to be better built. 



The heronry mentioned by Swinhoe (^ Ibis,' 1861) at 

 the Honam Temple, near Canton, no longer exists, thougli 

 suitable banyan-trees still grow there. 



These birds are supposed to be sacred, which does not, 

 however, apply to their eggs, fori a hungry Chinaman is not 

 above going to the heronry on the quiet, and shaking the 

 bamboos until an e^^, or several, roll out of the shallow 

 nests ; if they are not utterly smashed by a fall of twenty 

 feet they are promptly eaten. This peculiar habit of the 

 Celestial may account for the vast numbers of broken egg- 

 shells on the ground at Samshui ! 



Probably this bird is single-brooded, although young have 

 been found as late as September 11, 



Besides the two heronries mentioned above, numerous 

 smaller ones exist on the West River ; at Tam Chau, on 

 August 14, from one large banyan-tree in the centre of 

 the city eighty-six of these birds were counted as they flew 

 forth at sunset, to all points of the compass, in nocturnal 

 quest of food, and no doubt there were more, for darkness 

 only prevented others from being seen. 



This Heron feeds chiefly on frogs, and the odour of a 

 heronry on a damp, warm, spring day, such as characterizes 

 that season in southern China, is beyond either conception 

 or description. 



A mature bird has been observed to mate with one in 

 immature plumage. 



The eggs, usually pointed at one end, vary somewhat in 

 shape, and in depth of colour, even in the same clutches. 



